Not to take anything away from Josiah Monroe, but if there is a candidate for Bastrop County Player of the Year for 2010, well… it’s me.
Want proof?
All season I have picked Bastrop to win, which has given me the nickname “homer” among my Austin Community Newspapers and Austin American-Statesman colleagues.
With me picking them to win each week, the Bears finished with a 7-3 record and had losses to McNeil, Rudder and Hutto — all teams I picked Bastrop to defeat by double digits.
Since their 36-7 loss to Hutto, I vowed I’d pick against Bastrop against Corsicana in the first round of the playoffs because, honestly, I didn’t think they were going to win after watching the Hutto game. I mean, did you see that game?
Bastrop blasted the Tigers and then went up head-to-head with Sulphur Springs.
Another fast running back and another loss, or so I thought. (Again, did you watch the Hutto game?)
Well, two picks against Bastrop and two wins.
So, the third week, when undefeated Frisco Liberty was fired up and ready to take down the Bears, I figured this was a sure bet.
The only sure thing turned out to be ESPN Dallas picking up the nickname a few peers and I bestowed on Monroe — Josiah “The Mosiah” Monroe. (Does that make it official now?)
I digress.
I was almost sure Bastrop’s defensive line was going to be no match for Frisco Liberty’s Jay Ajayi, who had 2,026 yards going into Saturday’s game.
Woops!
I was wrong again and the Bears are going to the state quarterfinals for the first time in almost 10 years.
So, I am ready to take credit where credit is due.
Now if you want proof it’s me, here is more tangible evidence.
I covered Marshall football for three years while in college. The Thundering Herd won three conference championships and three bowl games.
During my first real job in Palestine I covered the Westwood Panthers (3A), who had two seasons of 0-10 before my arrival in 2005. That year, Westwood went 6-4 for the first time in five years.
The ironic twist, a young quarterback named Grayln Crawford won the starting job in his sophomore season that year and led the Panthers to their first playoff win in eight years two years later in his senior season.
Then I moved on and covered Blooming Grove (2A) in 2007,  my first year at the Corsicana Daily Sun. The Lions hadn’t had a winning season  for several years and hadn’t made the playoffs since 1985.
That year, Blooming Grove got into the playoffs.
In my first year at The Bastrop Advertiser, Elgin won its first playoff game under head coach Danny Lauve.
Now can I get some credit for Bastrop’s playoff run?
On another note, I am going to test the free agent market to other teams looking for a sports writer that want to turn their program around.

Region II has been kind to Bastrop County
When Bastrop and Elgin were thrown into Region II during the UIL district realignment, I was sure the postseason would be unkind.
I was way wrong.
Over the last two sports seasons, Bastrop County went 10-18 in the playoffs and 2-9 last year as part of Region IV and Region III (Elgin).
In just the fall sports season, Bastrop County is 5-1 in the postseason as part as Region II.
Elgin’s volleyball team, which was 0-2 in Region III, advanced to the regional quarterfinals and barely missed out on the semifinals.
Bastrop’s football team, which was 0-1 in Region IV, is one win away from its furthest trip in the playoffs since 1966.
Most high school sports writers in Texas have deemed Region IV the weakest of the four regions and that may still be true.
Region II, however, has been really good for Bastrop’s football team and Elgin’s volleyball team.

Call for some history
I am looking for some player history for Bastrop football. More importantly, I would like to put together some all-time records and individual statistics for past Bastrop football teams and players
If anyone can help me with this project, please contact me at madams@bastropadvertiser.com or call me at the office, (512) 321-2557.